ABSTRACT
This chapter delves into the intricate interplay between the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) and the state in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the unique challenges posed by the pandemic to the dominant position of the GOC in Georgian society, as codified by its Constitutional Agreement with the state and numerous legal arrangements. The research employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews with priests, participant observation in churches, and institutional analysis of the church's official statements and decrees. The study offers a nuanced examination of the church's response to the pandemic, exploring the impact of its actions on religious practices and rituals, and the nature of religious gatherings in the context of disease transmission. The findings suggest that the church engaged in performative security, creating an image of security through repeated narratives and rituals, while maintaining access to its churches and competing with the state for the hegemonic position in the national polity.
